FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (February 28, 2025) – Northern Arizona Basketball (16-13, 7-9) are heading into a crucial three-day stretch as the regular season winds down with Senior Night on Saturday in Flagstaff followed by a Monday night meeting in Pocatello to close Big Sky play. The Jacks will host Northern Colorado (21-8, 13-3) for an 8 p.m. start at Findlay Toyota Court on Saturday night before going to take on the Idaho State Bengals (14-13, 9-7) on Monday.
The Lumberjacks will honor seniors
Jayden Jackson and
Trent McLaughlin on Saturday evening ahead of tip-off. Jackson joined the Jacks in 2021, has recorded 64 starts in 79 appearances, and averages 9.3 points per game while playing a huge role in the team culture. He has tabbed his career high of 23 points twice, doing the same with a single-game career high of 11 rebounds. While currently leading the Big Sky, Jackson's assist-to-turnover ratio of 2.32 ranks 67
th in the country. In his career, he has made 264 field goals, recorded 287 rebounds, 180 assists, and 734 points.
Joining NAU basketball in 2022, McLaughlin has appeared in 97 games for the Jacks, making 72 starts, while currently averaging 21.7 points per game to rank fourth in Division-I basketball. He became the 33
rd member of the 1,000 Point Club with a 26-point victory over Southern Utah in December, currently recording 1,352 career points with the Jacks. McLaughlin's single-game career high in points is set at 35, which he has recorded twice this season while recording his career-high in rebounds of seven, four times. McLaughlin has tabbed four games recording a career-high five steals, and tabs 453 field goals, 196 three-pointers, 293 rebounds, 197 assists, and 122 steals.
Currently seeded fifth in Big Sky standings, the Jacks have two opportunities to move up while taking on second-seeded UNC on Saturday and fourth-seeded ISU on Monday. NAU is coming off a 20-point victory over Eastern Washington, led by 23 points from McLaughlin as NAU extended their win streak over the Eagles to three-straight. Northern Arizona is shooting 48.4 percent from the field through the last three contests, coming off their season best of 61.8 percent from the field. The Jacks continue to lead the league in rebounds, averaging 38.7 per game as a team. A 17-win season will mark the best under head coach
Shane Burcar, besting his interim season record of 16-14 in 2019-20.
Carson Towt continues to lead the nation in rebounds, ranking second overall with 12.4 boards per game as he sits in fourth in double-double performances with 18 on the season. Towt is shooting 56.6 percent from the field to rank 32
nd in the nation while averaging 13.2 points per game.
Monty Bowser is coming off a perfect 3-3 from the field against EWU, scoring 15 in the last three games while shooting 42.8 percent from the field on the season.
Northern Colorado, trailing first place in the conference half a game back, is seeking two wins to secure 15 conference wins in the regular season, which would match the most since the 2019-20 campaign. The Bears have won their last two, taking victories over Eastern Washington and Idaho in Greeley last week. UNC's last loss came to the Portland State Vikings on Feb. 15, falling 82-71. UNC's 13 wins against Big Sky foes rank second in program history since joining the league before the 2006-07 season. The Bears posted a 15-5 mark during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons. The Bears are led by Isaiah Hawthorne and Langston Reynolds with Hawthorne averaging 17.6 points per game followed by 16.7 from Reynolds.
The Bengals are heading into the week on a three-game win streak, with a Saturday night matchup facing Eastern Washington coming first. The Bengals rank 1
st in the Big Sky in: Free Throw Attempts Per Game (20.5) & Free Throw's Made Per Game (15.1), Rebound Margin (+9.0) (8
th in NCAA), Offensive Rebounds Per Game (13.38) (11
th in NCAA), Scoring Defense, holding opposing teams to just 69.9 PPG. Jake O'Neil recorded his 13
th double-double of the season (15 points & 10 rebounds) in Idaho State's win vs. Sacramento State on Feb. 22
nd (2
nd in the Big Sky & 9
th in the NCAA in Double-Doubles). Dylan Darling is T-3
rd in the NCAA in Scoring during the Month of February (174 Points). Darling is 2
nd in the Big Sky in Assists (141) and Assists per Game (5.9) (24
th in the NCAA).
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